October 13, 2006
Poor Chief Illiniwek
Dear Chief Illiniwek,
In Illinois, a university chooses to honor your spirit and valiant honor in battle, by choosing you as their symbol. It’s too bad that some panty-waisted professors are trying to steal your honor. Though you may be a fictional character, I weep for you.
A group of Illinois faculty members is sending a letter to prospective athletic recruits suggesting they “may want to think twice about whether the university is a good environment for you to further your education and athletic career” because of “the use of a fictitious Native American, named Chief Illiniwek, as the university’s sports mascot.”
Heading the list of 14 signers is Stephen J. Kaufman, emeritus professor of cell and developmental biology who long has been a harsh critic of what the university calls “the Chief Illiniwek tradition.”
The faculty members’ letter informs recruits of the NCAA’s August, 2005 ruling that prevents Illinois from hosting postseason tournaments because it considers continuation of the tradition to be “hostile and abusive” to Native Americans.
Poor Chief Illiniwek… Why do they try to destroy your tradition?
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